Istället för abrakadabra (2008)

A man who still lives with his parents tries to realize his dream of becoming a magician.

Director:

Patrik Eklund

Writer:

Patrik Eklund (screenplay)

Stars:

Simon J. Berger, Jacob Nordenson, Anki Larsson

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Simon J. Berger	...	Thomas
Jacob Nordenson	...	Bengt
Anki Larsson	...	Gunilla
Saga Gärde	...	Monika
Göran Forsmark	...	Stunt-Roger
Daniel Rudstedt	...	The Photographer
Johan Lundström	...	Jonas
Jakob Arevärn	...	Gangster 1
Benny Boström	...	Gangster 2
Helena Hansson	...	Makeup Artist
Patrik Eklund	...	Director
Hans Andersson	...	Doctor 1
Ebba Forstenberg	...	Ill Sister
Kjell Olsson	...	Doctor 2
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ruth Filipp	...	Shocked Woman

Storyline

Thomas is 25, jobless, living with his parents - trying to be a magician. He's smitten by Monika, a new neighbor who's a doctor at the hospital where they take his mom when one of his tricks goes awry. She seems out of his league, but she invites him to perform at a child's party. He begs his skeptical father to let him perform at dad's 60th birthday. Monika is in the audience. Breaking a promise to his father, Thomas attempts the trick that nearly killed his mother: swords through a box inside of which is a volunteer. With family, friends, and Monika watching, will it go well, will he make a good impression, or is too much beyond his control?

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Plot Keywords:

magician | party | 60th birthday | new neighbor | hospital | 

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Genres:

Short | Action | Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish

Release Date:

12 March 2010 (Mexico)

Also Known As:

Entä abrakadabra?

Box Office

Budget:

SEK 750,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmpool Nord

Technical Specs

Runtime:

22 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Edited into The Oscar Nominated Short Films 2010: Live Action (2010)

User Reviews

Not bad...but among the year's best?

I am going to say something rather radical. Over the last several years, I've gone to the showings of both the animated and live-action short films that were Oscar nominated. For the first time ever, I went to a showing and didn't particularly like any of the films--as was the case with the live-action ones for 2010. I didn't think any of them were bad but i also didn't think any were Oscar-worthy--and most of them were amazingly unpleasant--like the Academy deliberately tried to pick the most unpleasant films they could this year. Perhaps 2008-9 was a poor year for live-action films or perhaps this just shows a bias of the people picking them. However, I can't see the public in general enjoying most of the films or wanting to see them.

The film is a comedy about a loser who insists on becoming a professional magician when he grows up. However, he is 25 and he never gets paid and doesn't seem particularly competent. To make things worse, he insists on doing very dangerous tricks--and they often seem to backfire.

"Instead of Abracadabra" is an odd choice for an Oscar nomination. It isn't a bad film at all, but it also seems very slight. Enjoyable but not especially memorable. I also didn't particularly think seeing such a creepy looking guy lying in be masturbating was pleasant or even necessary. It's like puking or peeing--things normal folks won't want to see in films, I can assure you! Overall, funny and clever but not especially deep or memorable.